“Whatever”

Some years ago, I was painting the exterior of a house and from across a little pond that was shared by a small community of homes, came the sound of the words, “Whatever”.  A few seconds later, another “Whatever”.  Then a few more and each one a little louder than the one before.  I have used the word many times and hear it frequently.  What does it mean?  You know.

“Don’t bother me. . .I’m done. . .this is not going well. . .kiss off. . .I feel hurt but its anger that is coming out of me. . . I have a finger in each ear and I’m saying, “La la la la la”. Frustration, agitation, negative communication.  No more celebration.  Dead in the moment. Not good.

One day my daughter Rachel came home from school with a project she had made in a shop class.  It was a wooden plaque with the inscriptions etched on it, “No pain, no gain.  No guts, no glory.”  As someone else has said, “If it doesn’t kill you, it’s good for you.”  Something in the human intellect responds like a warrior and agrees with the premise.  “Bring it on.”  Then not too many moments or minutes later, the fighting spirit is gone.

The mystical, magical influencing that come from the words, simply disappear.  Another triggering event, another difficult moment subdues the life of the encouraging thought and despair returns. And after each event, the warrior spirit diminishes and then dies.  The walking dead.

When the little Dumbo sheep come into the Royal flock, the King Himself brands their heart with two inscriptions, “I have loved you with an Everlasting Love; therefore with Loving-kindness have I drawn you to me.  I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt My little lamb.”  A little later, when they begin to grow up a little and the journey becomes difficult, He holds the hot iron in His hand and imprints the words in the soul, “We know and are assured, that God being a Partner in the labor of life; all things work together for Good for those Whom He Loves.“   All things.  All. Things. Whatever.

The New Testament of the Bible is translated from the Beautiful Greek Language. The phrase, “all things” is defined as:  all, any, every, the whole;  all manner of means;  always; daily; every way, every one; thoroughly; whatever.  Whatever!  Whatever happens works together for Good.

Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus was dead in the tomb for four days.  Dead.  Jesus went to the tomb and simply said, “Lazarus, come forth.”  The Power of Jesus’ words brought the heart of Lazarus back to Life and he walked out of the tomb, Alive.  It’s exactly the same when He speaks to His dead, but only sleeping sheep.

When they are in their “whatever” moments and dead in the water, so to speak, He says with the same Creative Power that Spoke the Universe into existence, “All things whatsoever that come your way, I have authored for you.  Everything that happens will serve you.  Whatever you go through will work together for Good.

God says of His children, “Sing about a fruitful vineyard.  I the Lord watch over it.  I water it continually.  I guard it day and night so that nothing can harm it.”  Nothing can do harm to it, even when it feels like harm.

No Pain, No Gain.  No Guts, No Glory.  All things work together for Good for His children.  Whatever comes, in every way and in every form strips His sheep of their own power and self-righteousness and replaces what they have lost with Himself.  .  .through His Son Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Then they are able to say, “When I am weak, then I am Strong. .  .I can do all things through Christ, Who Strengthens me..”